Device 6

Every once in a while you stumble across something that transcends the sum of its parts. It grips you, sends you on a wild ride, and when it’s over you’re left in awe. It has taken me a while to process Simogo’sDevice 6. When I started it I had not idea what I was getting into, and when it was over I couldn’t stop thinking about it. A few of you might find it odd that I am recommending an app in my “reading recommendations” section but that’s just it, calling Device 6 just another “app” or even a “game” would be doing it a serious disservice. No. Device 6 is something else.

It’s, well… it’s hard to really pin down: Device 6 is a book, you read it like a book. It tells a story over chapters like a book, but it’s more than just a book, it’s also a puzzle game, an audio journey, an exploration in typography, and a 1960-esque spy thriller. Too often interactive fiction either feels more like a book or more like a game. Device 6 does such a good job straddling the fence between book, game, and interactive fiction that I think its appeal extends to anyone interested in storytelling. It’s immersive and engaging like a great novel, but at the same time it’s immersive and engaging like a good game. The fact that it does both of these things so well and so seamlessly is what makes it such an achievement.

With tablets becoming a dominate force in the marketplace it’s no surprise we’re starting to see these sorts of explorations. However, unlike a lot of forays into interactive storytelling Device 6 isn’t a branching weave of multiple endings, complex paths, and dead ends. Instead its perfection lies in its simplicity: it’s an imaginative, tightly-executed, well-written, liner story that pulls you into its world.

When it comes to emergent interactive fiction Device 6 is at the top of its game and its small yet rich world is worth any gamer, writer, or readers time. Device 6 is currently available on the Apple App Store and if you’re still not convinced watch the trailer below:

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